Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke
Directed By: George Miller
It’s time for complete transparency. Despite the critical acclaim, I was not a big fan of Mad Max: Fury Road. I can obviously respect it from a technical standpoint but it never dazzled me in the same way it seemed to impress others on its release 9 years ago. Listen, there are only so many movies I can accept watching Tom Hardy do an accent where I pick up one out of every three words he says. He may be pushed on us by the film world, but I cannot handle his accent work. It is BAD and we have to start acknowledging that. Not to mention, the plot took a massive backseat to the action. Despite that, I decided to give Furiosa a shot because her character was the most compelling part of the film and I’m a fan of Anya-Taylor Joy and Chris Hemsworth.
Furiosa is the origin story of the warrior Furiosa as she is kidnapped from the place of great abundance by Dementus (Chris Hemsworth), a biker warlord hoping to take control of the Wasteland. She tries to find her way back to her childhood home in the Wasteland in a world of chaos and anarchy.
Directed by George Miller (of Babe: Pig in the City fame), Furiosa is a return to the gonzo style of Mad Max: Fury Road. One thing I will say about Miller is (much like fellow Aussie Baz Luhrmann), he loves flashy, bold stylistic filmmaking that is truly cinematic. His style is unmistakable. While some of his choices don’t always work for me, it’s quite an experience to witness on the big screen. The action sequences are bombastic and Furiosa’s character arc is haunting. I also want to mention that Miller does not shy away from letting an actor have their Aussie accent and that’s commendable. I hate when directors try to get actors to cover up their Aussie accents. It’s so distracting and inorganic.
Me to every director who tries to silence an Australian accent.
Pacing is a massive issue in Furiosa. So much of the first act could be trimmed. There are times that you wouldn’t even know this was a movie about Furiosa considering how much time is dedicated to Dementus and his delusional quest for power. I want to point out that Alyla Brown is wonderful as young Furiosa, portraying so much emotion through facial expressions utilizing very few words. Despite her performance, the first hour drags. There’s not a lot of cohesion as plot lines are thrown together to showcase certain events of Furiosa’s formative years. I checked my watch at one point shocked that only an hour had gone by because it felt so much longer. Anya Taylor-Joy doesn’t show up until about an hour in, which is kind of wild considering she has top billing. The movie picks up substantially in the second act but there are still scenes that are edited so bizarrely. Characters end up in death-defying situations, only to be safe the next moment due to a fade out. How did they get out, George Miller? The 7 people who saw this in my Saturday night showing are dying to know.
It’s a tough task to take on a character so beloved in action films and feminist circles, but Anya Taylor-Joy is a wonderful Furiosa. She has proven to be one of the most exceptional upcoming actresses. From Emma to The Menu, she brings so much gravitas to every role. Furiosa is a stoic character who speaks very little but expresses a world through her expressions. Taylor-Joy can convey pain, tragedy, and strength through her eyes. Her performance leads quite well into Charlize Theron’s portrayal. Near the last act of the film certain mannerisms were eerily reminiscent of Theron.
Chris Hemsworth plays against type as Dementus, the villain of the film. Donning a distracting prosthetic nose, Hemsworth chews every bit of scenery as the campy villain who is incredibly intimidating in his brutality yet incapable of obtaining the power he seeks due to his ignorance. There is a monologue between Hemsworth and Taylor-Joy that is the highlight of the film as both characters are driven to a dark place to hash out years of resentment.
Tom Burke is Jack, a driver who helps Furiosa learn the ways of the road. He’s a great addition to the cast. He offers Furiosa safety at a time when it is absolutely necessary. Their relationship is one of the bright spots of the film.
I enjoyed the action sequences in the film. There is more CGI in Furiosa than Fury Road (which utilized more practical effects) but it is still visually striking to watch. Some of the stunt sequences kept me glued to the screen. The intro and bullet farm scenes in particular are highlights of the film.
Speaking of the bullet farm, the more I write about this movie the more ridiculous the whole thing seems. How do you think George Miller came up with the idea for the Mad Max franchise? “Ok, this series is post-apocalyptic. So the characters are going to go to a place called the bullet farm to get supplies in their monster trucks with their gangs. They’ll keep heads of lettuce in the trunk, obviously. To raise the stakes they’ll run into rival gangs who have these soldier that spray chrome solution in their mouths when they’re about to die! Also, no one leaves the Australian desert in this world.” - probably George Miller’s exact words when writing Mad Max.
Do you think there are any normal families in the Mad Max world who have not pledged their allegiance to the monster truck gangs? I think about this a little more than I should but will probably never get an answer.
Overall, Furiosa suffers from some pacing issues but remains an intriguing origin story with great performances from its leads.
My Rating: 7/10